Hybrid family trip: 1 passenger in F, 3 in Y - any tips?

[largestgasman]

Hi. Happy New Year everyone.

So this is a bit of a continuation of an earlier post where I gratefully received advice about how to best enjoy my first time in the pointy end of the plane, flying from Melbourne to London. I don't have a high enough post count to link it here. I did mention in that thread I might get into trouble with the wife....

The situation has changed a wee bit and now the entire family is coming along. We are also extending the trip by a week.

So: Melbourne to London 1 x Qantas award flight in F, 1 adult & 2 kids in Y - looks like we are going to split the first class experience, a leg each with the ankle biters and a leg with the champagne. We will try to upgrade the economy flights on points to PE but don't have status and need 3 seats so don't think much of our chances.

London to Melbourne: On Etihad 1 x F seat, 3 x Y seats on the outward flight to Abu Dhabi and then we split up and I go F via Sydney (A380) and a domestic connection to Melbourne and home as previously booked while the wife takes the kids on the long leg in Y direct to Melbourne on the 777. The wife gets F from London to AbuDhabi and then I get it the rest of the way. We hope we both get a bit of a taste of the good life and we have shoehorned a family trip to London in.

So a few questions:

1. Will the airlines allow the whole family to use the complimentary limo to the airports (a single pick up address, same initial flight connection)?

2. Is there any chance at all of getting the whole mob into the first lounges - I think I already know the answer to this.

3. What is the best way to make the bookings for my family and change my existing flights. Is there any advantage to speaking to Qantas and getting us all put on the same booking - or does that make the upgrade request from Y impossible? I can see the necessary flights online and could book direct with the airlines' websites easily enough. I would only need to speak to etihad to change my existing booking.

4. We are intending on sharing the first class experience - a leg each, each way. I assume this would all be acceptable to cabin staff and wouldn't be a debacle.

If anyone has any other tips for hybrid trips like this I am all ears!

Sad that the qantas 1st lounge visit may now be out of bounds. I was thinking I could park the family in the Qantas Club and make a short visit for some fizz...

 

[RooFlyer]

Hi largestgasman

Interesting trip! before addressing your specific questions, may I give a bit of advice re sharing the perks of F. You mention swapping the F 'duties' at the half way mark and that seems sensible but I suggest you seek out the Cabin Service Manager (or 'Senior Flight Attendant') on each occasion and explain the situation and what you would like to happen. CSMs are usually very protective of their F cabin (as they should be) and can make life difficult if 'liberties' are taken. There will be natural temptation for the family to visit the person in the F seat and again, this needs to be done with tact and consultation, so as not to put the cabin crew, or the other F pax offside. Try to get friendly with the CSM or the F cabin crew before ANY excursions are made. If the F cabin has vacant seats, resist the temptation to ask for some of the family to be brought up to F, but if you play your cards right, a friendly CSM may suggest it. Difficult to leave kids alone in Y to have a guest dine with the F pax (which is usually allowed), unfortunately.

1) I believe with the QF limo fellow pax can share the one car OK.

2) I think the QF rules allow one adult guest and ??all?? children under ?18. The rules are on the QF web site so you can check, but you should be OK. Hope so.

3) I don't know the answer to 3) but worth a call to QF to see if everyone can be put under the same PNR. Hopefully some-one else has better info on this. Maybe call the premium line, since you are an F passenger - they are generally more sympathetic. There are Qantas 'First Hosts' who look after F pax on Qantas - if you don't have their phone numbers PM me, or put a request here and I should be able to PM you. BTW First Hosts should phone you the day before departure and ask for any specific requests - help with check-in (met at kerb side), spa appointments etc. Only a F pax can make a spa appointment beforehand, but guests can try to make an appointment when they arrive at the lounge.

4) See above. Be discrete and get friendly with the CSM and First cabin crew and that will make things a lot easier.

best of luck!

 

[russ]

My tip is to stay in F and let the others stay in Y

 

[RooFlyer]

Qantas lounge access rules here. One adult guest and 2 children under 18.

 

[Buzzard]

A great post RooFlyer.
You did forget to mention however, close the doors so you can't hear the Y pax screaming

 

[largestgasman]

Thanks RooFlyer.
Very good advice to ensure good relations with the CSM and crew I am sure. I was intending to discuss our plans with regards to splitting the time in F at check in so that everyone was made aware of our intentions. I figured that, as we have to get off the plane at Dubai anyway that might make it easier to accommodate. I certainly wasn't thinking of presuming we would be able to relocate en masse to F, more that my wife and I would each get the opportunity to have some peace and quiet. We'll be polite, treat everyone with respect and see how it goes.

It does look like we can take the whole mob into the first lounge at melbourne based on your link. I would hope our boys would behave appropriately but given the lateness of the flight they may not cope well - in which case we might camp in the Qantas Club and send whoever is not taking the first leg in first to the lounge to have a bite to eat and a drink as compensation! Maybe a massage too.

Good news about the limo too.

It would be great if you were able to PM me with the best phone number to call to start these discussions with Qantas.
My first step tomorrow is to call Etihad to shift my flight to the later date and once that is done I can start to make the other arrangements.

Thanks

 

[RooFlyer]

Hope I didn't sound too school-m'am-ish above.

Unless your BP names look gender non-specific, only you would be able to get into the F Lounge alone ; the spa IIRC also asks for BP.

"Unfortunately" you'll all have to camp in the F lounge initially, others guested in, then decide your strategy.

I'll PM you

 

[medhead]

The f lounge is probably better and trying to get one of the rooms.

I don't see the point of mentioning the first cabin swap plan at check in. They really don't have any say about that as it's outside their responsibility. They are likely to stare blankly at you or give you the party line that it's not allowed. The crew manager is the important person.

 

[NoName]

Anyone want to have a chat with my wife and convince her of the merits of a similar sort of travel arrangment? I couldn't believe the suggestion of her in F and myself and 2 year old in J to LAX was strongly knocked back! Lol

 

[largestgasman]

Well. It is all booked.

Had a chat with Etihad regarding the chauffeur drive and they say they are only allowed to take two passengers (who are supposed to be premium cabin passengers) so we won't all make it to Heathrow in the one car but at least we can pack all the luggage in to the limo leaving whoever goes with the kids nothing to carry.
They said they would put a note on the reservations that we are all travelling together for what that is worth.

RooFlyer, if you were able to PM me that QF premium hotline that would be great. I will have a natter to them too.

NoName - I was lucky as I had already been given the green light for my solo trip over to London for the RWC2015 and when I suggested they come along too it was either this or nothing. Had I suggested this from the outset I have a pretty clear idea how that conversation would have played out....

Medhead - good idea about trying to get a room in the 1st Lounge

Thanks everyone.

 

[amaroo]

Half your luck!

In a few days I'll be booking return flights from Europe (Jan 16) and can see plenty of availability for 2xF & 2xJ, however, SWMBO has issued strict instructions to book all 4 (kids will be >12) in the same class I only have a few days left to woo her....

 

[stoneman]

Well. It is all booked.

Had a chat with Etihad regarding the chauffeur drive and they say they are only allowed to take two passengers (who are supposed to be premium cabin passengers) so we won't all make it to Heathrow in the one car but at least we can pack all the luggage in to the limo leaving whoever goes with the kids nothing to carry.
They said they would put a note on the reservations that we are all travelling together for what that is worth.

RooFlyer, if you were able to PM me that QF premium hotline that would be great. I will have a natter to them too.

NoName - I was lucky as I had already been given the green light for my solo trip over to London for the RWC2015 and when I suggested they come along too it was either this or nothing. Had I suggested this from the outset I have a pretty clear idea how that conversation would have played out....

Medhead - good idea about trying to get a room in the 1st Lounge

Thanks everyone.

Hope its a Black Flag you'll be waving at RWC, but if not, 'F' will make a great trip anyway...

 

[RooFlyer]

Half your luck!

In a few days I'll be booking return flights from Europe (Jan 16) and can see plenty of availability for 2xF & 2xJ, however, SWMBO has issued strict instructions to book all 4 (kids will be >12) in the same class I only have a few days left to woo her....

Hmmm ... there is MBO and then there is MBO*

* Subject to terms, conditions and negotiation

 

[amaroo]

Hmmm ... there is MBO and then there is MBO*

* Subject to terms, conditions and negotiation

Looking good! Worked some magic over dinner - wine makes these things easier to understand I'm getting a sniff of success ... was keen on BA but leaning towards CX as it will be a new experience.

 

[jb747]

The person with the Y boarding pass WILL NOT be allowed to swap into first.

 

[nowmedia]

After having suffered through many fights at the blunt end with kids screaming, kids repeatedly kicking the back of my seat and kids running up and down the aisles surely the question is how can you all travel together to collectively entertain your kids and minimise the impact on your fellow travellers?

 

[smit0847]

EY F will be fabulous.

EY Y will be horrendous.

I can't think of an airline with a bigger divide between F and Y. Most airlines who have a great F product also have a decent Y one!